Electrosorption of uranium ions on activated carbon fibers

A study on the electrosorption of uranium (U(VI)) ions onto a porous activated carbon fiber was performed to treat lagoon sludge containing 100 mg/L uranium and high concentration of chemical salts composed 3.8% NaNO₃, 19.8% NH₄NO₃, 1.9% Ca(NO₃)₂. The applied negative potential increased the adsorption kinetics and capacity in comparison to the open-circuit potential adsorption for uranium ions. When applying potential at −0.9 V (vs. Ag/AgCl) and pH 4, above 99% of the uranium is selectively removed from the 100 mg/L influent by electrosorption, and the cumulative amount of uranium for 50 h is about 600 mg_uranium/g_ACF. The high selectivity of elctrosorption process for uranium was probably caused by the difference of charge density of cations. More than 99% of adsorbed uranium ions was desorbed at a potential of +1.2 V and pH 3. The electrosorption of uranium onto the porous activated carbon fiber electrode is due to an ion exchange type reaction between the uranium ions and surface acid groups on carbon surface. Cyclic electrosorption test consisting of adsorption and desorption step shows that the activated carbon fiber electrode is easily regenerated in situ, indicating it is a reversible process.